It is what it is — big, bold, and federally guaranteed.

Old Forester has about as much tradition as you can get in a Bourbon. It is a single brand of Bourbon that has been continuously available for 145 years — most of that time from the same family of craftsmen at the same distillery. Interestingly, it was the first Bourbon to be available exclusively in sealed glass bottles. There was a lot of nefarious re-bottling and dilution going on and this was a way to ensure quality and integrity. Today it is owned by Brown-Forman, available in eight different varieties and is a sister Bourbon to Woodford Reserve.

“Bottled in Bond” is a US government designation that guarantees that a spirit meets certain quality requirements. To qualify, a spirit — usually Whiskey — must come from a single distillery, be produced in a single season, be aged a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and be bottled at a minimum 50% ABV, among other things. The law that authorized this regulation was passed in 1897, and that’s where Old Forester 1897 got its name. And as you might have guessed, it qualifies as Bottled in Bond. So Old Forester 1897 is everything you like about their Bourbon, but stronger and guaranteed by law to be perfect for your next Manhattan or Old Fashioned cocktail.

Smartass Corner:
Woodford is the “Official Bourbon” and its sister brand Old Forester is part of the “Official Mint Julep Cocktail” for the famous Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs racetrack."